U.S. patent number 8,528,757 [Application Number 12/422,553] was granted by the patent office on 2013-09-10 for cap for container provided with guarantee seal.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Guala Pack S.p.A.. The grantee listed for this patent is Luigi Bisio. Invention is credited to Luigi Bisio.
United States Patent |
8,528,757 |
Bisio |
September 10, 2013 |
Cap for container provided with guarantee seal
Abstract
A cap is provided with a guarantee seal. The guarantee seal has
guarantee portions which have an engagement portion and a
connecting portion. The seal further has bridges for connecting
adjacent guarantee portions to one another and a safety portion
that makes the engagement portion integral with the handling
portion. The safety portion is structurally suitable for keeping
the engagement portion constrained in the broken seal
configuration, for preventing the forming of dangerous spikes.
Inventors: |
Bisio; Luigi (Alessandria,
IT) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bisio; Luigi |
Alessandria |
N/A |
IT |
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Assignee: |
Guala Pack S.p.A. (Castellazzo
Bormida, IT)
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Family
ID: |
37905807 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/422,553 |
Filed: |
April 13, 2009 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090223963 A1 |
Sep 10, 2009 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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PCT/IT2007/000426 |
Jun 15, 2007 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Oct 27, 2006 [IT] |
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BS2006A0190 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252;
222/153.06; 215/307; 215/258; 220/304; 222/92 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
41/3433 (20130101); B65D 41/3404 (20130101); B65D
75/5883 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
53/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;215/252,307,258
;222/92,153.06 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0688724 |
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Dec 1995 |
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EP |
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1407977 |
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Apr 2004 |
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EP |
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1 676 783 |
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Jul 2006 |
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EP |
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10-181758 |
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Jul 1998 |
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JP |
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2002-104447 |
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Apr 2002 |
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JP |
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2004-231229 |
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Aug 2004 |
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JP |
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2004-331124 |
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Nov 2004 |
|
JP |
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WO 2004/045977 |
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Jun 2004 |
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WO |
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WO 2004/108545 |
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Dec 2004 |
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WO |
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Other References
International Search Report received in corresponding International
Patent Application No. PCT/IT2007/000426 dated Oct. 22, 2007 (3
pages). cited by applicant .
Communication issued by the European Patent Office dated Feb. 10,
2012 concerning the observations by a third party concerning the
patentability of corresponding European Patent Application No.
07790158 (9 pages). cited by applicant .
Response to the observations by a third party filed with the
European Patent Office dated Mar. 8, 2012 (2 pages). cited by
applicant .
Communication issued by the European Patent Office dated Oct. 2,
2012 concerning the observations by a third party concerning the
patentability of corresponding European Patent Application No.
07790158 (8 pages). cited by applicant .
Response to the observations by a third party filed with the
European Patent Office dated Oct. 31, 2012 concerning European
Patent Application No. 07790158 (1 page). cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Pickett; J. Gregory
Assistant Examiner: Way; James
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kilyk & Bowersox, P.L.L.C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cap suitable for being associated to a coupling portion of a
container and suitable for being disconnected by rotation about an
axis of rotation from the coupling portion, wherein the coupling
portion comprises resistant elements suitable for engaging the cap;
and wherein the cap comprises: a handling portion suitable for
being rotated by a user for disconnecting the cap from the
container; a guarantee seal, integral with the handling portion and
comprising a plurality of guarantee portions, wherein the seal
exhibits breaks in a broken seal configuration; wherein at least
one of the guarantee portions comprises: an engagement portion
having at least one engagement element suitable for engaging with
the resistant elements of the coupling portion for preventing the
rotation of the guarantee seal; a connecting portion, connected to
the engagement portion, having at least one connecting element
which makes the connecting portion integral to the handling
portion; an inner annular wall axially extended between a lower
edge, close to the guarantee seal, and an upper edge; a closing
bottom arranged at the upper edge, for closing the inner annular
wall; wherein the inner annular wall is integral with the handling
portion and the lower edge of the inner annular wall is radially
internal to the guarantee seal, wherein the inner annular wall is
internally threaded for allowing the screwing and/or unscrewing
from the coupling portion of the container; and wherein the
guarantee seal comprises at least one bridge which connects
adjacent guarantee portions to one another, the bridge being
suitable for breaking by rotation of the handling portion relative
to the guarantee seal; and wherein the guarantee seal further
comprises a safety portion that makes the engagement portion
integral with the handling portion, the safety portion being
structurally suitable for keeping the engagement portion
constrained in the broken seal configuration.
2. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the safety portion connects
the engagement portion of the guarantee seal with the inner annular
wall.
3. A cap according to claim 2, wherein the safety portion connects
the engagement portion of the guarantee seal with the lower edge of
the inner annular wall.
4. A cap according to claim 1, wherein the handling portion extends
annularly about the inner annular wall, radially spaced therefrom,
and axially between a bottom edge, close to the guarantee seal, and
an upper edge.
5. A cap according to claim 4, wherein the lower edge radially
extends externally to the guarantee seal.
6. A cap according to claim 4, comprising at least one tongue which
connects the handling portion to the inner annular wall.
7. A cap according to claim 6, wherein the tongue is flat and
laying on a longitudinal plane passing through the axis of
rotation.
8. A cap according to claim 6, wherein the tongues are in a number
of four, angularly equally spaced.
9. A cap according to claim 6, wherein the safety portion of the
guarantee seal comprises a reinforcing element that connects the
engagement portion to the tongue.
10. A cap according to claim 1, wherein a loop is obtained between
the engagement portion and the connecting portion of the guarantee
seal for settling the engagement portion and the connecting portion
in the broken seal configuration.
11. A cap according to claim 1, comprising safety passages passing
through an outer enclosure of the cap.
12. A cap according to claim 11, wherein the safety passages are
obtained through the handling portion.
13. A closing device for a container comprising: a coupling portion
provided with a tubular straw, the coupling portion being suitable
for being associated to the container; a cap associated to the
coupling portion, suitable for being disconnected by rotation about
an axis of rotation from the coupling portion; wherein the cap
comprises: a handling portion suitable for being rotated by a user
for disconnecting the cap from the container; a guarantee seal,
integral with the handling portion and comprising a plurality of
guarantee portions, wherein the seal exhibits breaks in a broken
seal configuration; wherein at least one of the guarantee portions
comprises: an engagement portion having at least one engagement
element suitable for engaging with resistant elements of the
coupling portion for preventing the rotation of the guarantee seal;
a connecting portion, connected to the engagement portion, having
at least one connecting element which makes the connecting portion
integral to the handling portion; an inner annular wall axially
extended between a lower edge, close to the guarantee seal, and an
upper edge; a closing bottom arranged at the upper edge, for
closing the inner annular wall; wherein the inner annular wall is
integral with the handling portion and the lower edge of the inner
annular wall is radially internal to the guarantee seal, wherein
the inner annular wall is internally threaded for allowing the
screwing and/or unscrewing from the coupling portion of the
container; and wherein the guarantee seal comprises at least one
bridge which connects adjacent guarantee portions to one another,
the bridge being suitable for breaking by rotation of the handling
portion relative to the guarantee seal; and wherein the guarantee
seal further comprises a safety portion that makes the engagement
portion integral with the handling portion, the safety portion
being structurally suitable for keeping the engagement portion
constrained in the broken seal configuration.
14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the coupling portion
comprises welding walls for welding the coupling portion to the
container walls.
15. A container assembly comprising a container; a closing device
coupled to the container, wherein the closing device comprising a
coupling portion provided with a tubular straw, the coupling
portion being suitable for being associated to the container; a cap
associated to the coupling portion, suitable for being disconnected
by rotation about an axis of rotation from the coupling portion;
wherein the cap comprises: a handling portion suitable for being
rotated by a user for disconnecting the cap from the container; a
guarantee seal, integral with the handling portion and comprising a
plurality of guarantee portions, wherein the seal exhibits breaks
in a broken seal configuration; wherein at least one of the
guarantee portions comprises: an engagement portion having at least
one engagement element suitable for engaging with resistant
elements of the coupling portion for preventing the rotation of the
guarantee seal; a connecting portion, connected to the engagement
portion, having at least one connecting element which makes the
connecting portion integral to the handling portion; an inner
annular wall axially extended between a lower edge, close to the
guarantee seal, and an upper edge; a closing bottom arranged at the
upper edge, for closing the inner annular wall; wherein the inner
annular wall is integral with the handling portion and the lower
edge of the inner annular wall is radially internal to the
guarantee seal, wherein the inner annular wall is internally
threaded for allowing the screwing and/or unscrewing from the
coupling portion of the container; and wherein the guarantee seal
comprises at least one bridge which connects adjacent guarantee
portions to one another, the bridge being suitable for breaking by
rotation of the handling portion relative to the guarantee seal;
and wherein the guarantee seal further comprises a safety portion
that makes the engagement portion integral with the handling
portion, the safety portion being structurally suitable for keeping
the engagement portion constrained in the broken seal
configuration.
16. An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the container is
deformable.
Description
This application is a continuation of International Application No.
PCT/IT2007/000426, filed Jun. 15, 2007, which claims priority from
Italian Patent Application No. BS2006A000190, filed Oct. 27,
2006.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cap for container with guarantee
seal, that is a cap provided with a seal which upon the first
opening, undergoes breakage, thus indicating the occurrence of the
opening or tampering of the container.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
As known, caps with guarantee seal have become much widespread
since they allow the consumer to ensure that the container has not
been already opened or tampered. Such guarantee is especially
appreciated in the field of containers for alimentary pastas or
liquids, for example fruit juices, wherein the opening of the
container could cause the deterioration of the contents or
sometimes, the introduction of undesired substances in the
container.
Fruit juice containers, in particular, are normally used by
children, so a set of more or less strict standards according to
the Country, prescribe some safety requirements the caps must
meet.
The standards usually impose some restrictions on the cap
dimensions so as to prevent the possibility that they are swallowed
by the children.
For the caps currently known, once the cap is unscrewed the
guarantee seal breaks into a set of portions that remain associated
to the cap body, so the possibility that such portions are
swallowed by the children should be substantially prevented.
However, besides being weakly associated to the cap body, they form
spikes that dangerously protrude from the cap body. The spikes
could harm hurt the child's eyes or they could be detached from the
cap body with the teeth and swallowed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to make a cap for containers
provided with a guarantee seal which should be especially safe to
be used even by children.
Such object is achieved by a cap suitable for being associated to a
coupling portion of a container and suitable for being disconnected
by rotation about an axis of rotation from the coupling portion.
The coupling portion comprises resistant elements suitable for
engaging the cap.
The cap comprises a handling portion, suitable for being rotated by
a user for disconnecting the cap from the container, and a
guarantee seal, integral with the handling portion and comprising a
plurality of guarantee portions, wherein the seal has breaks in a
broken seal configuration.
At least one of the guarantee portions comprises an engagement
portion, having at least one engagement element suitable for
engaging with the resistant elements of the coupling portion for
preventing the rotation of the guarantee seal, and a connecting
portion, connected to the engagement portion, having at least one
connecting element which makes the connecting portion integral to
the handling portion.
The guarantee seal comprises at least one bridge which connects
adjacent guarantee portions to one another, the bridge being
suitable for breaking by rotation of the handling portion relative
to the guarantee seal.
The guarantee seal further comprises a safety portion that makes
the engagement portion integral with the handling portion, the
safety portion being structurally suitable for keeping the
engagement portion constrained in the broken seal
configuration.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a perspective bottom view of the cap according to the
present invention, provided with a guarantee seat in an intact seal
configuration.
FIG. 2 shows a further perspective view of the cap of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 shows a plan side view of the cap of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 shows a closing device comprising the cap according to the
present invention and a coupling portion to the container, wherein
the guarantee seal is in an incipient breakage configuration.
FIG. 5 shows the closing device of FIG. 4 in an intact seal
configuration.
FIG. 6 shows a section view obtained according to line VI-VI of
FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the cap according to the present
invention, in a broken seal configuration.
FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the cap, coupling portion, and
container according to the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the annexed figures, reference numeral 1 globally
indicates a cap suitable for being associated to a coupling portion
100 of a container 101, preferably deformable.
The coupling portion 100 of the container is generally provided
with a tubular straw 102, for dispensing the contents from the
container, to which the cap is associable.
At the base of straw 102, the coupling portion 100 comprises at
least one resistant element 104 suitable for engaging the cap for
preventing the rotation thereof, at least upon the first opening of
the container.
According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling portion 100
further comprises welding walls 106 for welding the coupling
portion 100 to the container walls.
Cap 1 is suitable for being disconnected from the coupling portion
100 of the container, generally by rotation about an axis of
rotation Z-Z, and comprises a guarantee seal 10 which, upon the
first opening of the container, that is, upon the first unscrewing
of cap 1 from the coupling portion 100, undergoes breakage that
proves the occurrence of the opening.
Cap 1 comprises a handling portion 2 suitable for being rotated by
a user for disconnecting cap 1 from the container.
According to a preferred embodiment, the handling portion 2 extends
axially from a bottom edge 4, close to the guarantee seal 10, to an
upper edge 6. In particular, the guarantee seal 10 axially
protrudes underneath the lower edge 4 of the handling portion
2.
Preferably, moreover, the lower edge 4 of the handling portion 2
radially extends externally to the guarantee seal 10.
According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, cap 1 comprises an
inner annular wall 12, for example internally threaded for allowing
the screwing and/or unscrewing of cap 1 from the coupling portion
100.
The inner annular wall 12 axially extends between a lower edge 14,
close to the guarantee seal 10, and an upper edge 16.
Cap 1 further comprises a closing bottom 18, arranged at the upper
edge 16 of the inner annular wall 12, for closing thereof and
thereby the container.
According to a preferred embodiment, moreover, cap 1 comprises at
least one tongue 20, for example flat, arranged on a longitudinal
plane passing by the axis of rotation Z-Z of the cap. In
particular, cap 1 comprises four tongues 20, arranged angularly
equally spaced.
The tongues 20 connect the handling portion 2 to the inner annular
wall 12.
According to a preferred embodiment, the cap comprises safety
passages 21 passing through the outer enclosure of the cap, for
example through the handling portion 2.
Advantageously, the safety passages allow the passage of air
through the handling portion in the event the cap, while meeting
the strictest standards envisaged on this subject, is accidentally
swallowed.
According to a preferred embodiment, the safety passages 21 are
obtained between the tongues 20 for the connection between the
handling portion 2 and the inner annular wall 12.
The guarantee seal 10, which extends as a tape annularly about the
axis of rotation Z-Z, comprises a plurality of guarantee portions
22, connected to one another in an intact seal configuration, that
is, prior to the first opening of the container, and separate from
each other in a broken seal configuration, that is, after the first
opening of the container.
The guarantee portion 22 comprises an engagement portion 24 having
at least one engagement element 26 suitable for engaging with the
resistant elements 104 of the coupling portion 100, for preventing
the rotation of the guarantee seal.
Moreover, the guarantee portion 22 comprises a connecting portion
28, connected to the engagement portion 24 and having at least one
connecting element 30 which makes the connecting portion 28
integral to the handling portion 2.
Moreover, the guarantee seal comprises at least one bridge 32 that
connects the guarantee portions 22 to one another. The bridge 32 is
suitable for breaking by rotation of the handling portion 2
relative to the guarantee seal 10.
The guarantee seal 22 further comprises a safety portion 34 that
makes the engagement portion 24 integral with the handling portion
2. The safety portion 34 is structurally suitable for keeping the
engagement portion 24 connected to the handling portion 2 in the
broken seal configuration.
In other words, even when the guarantee seal undergoes breakage,
thus indicating the occurrence of the opening of the container, the
safety portion 34 keeps the engagement portion 24 constrained, so
as not to form dangerous spikes.
Moreover, for higher safety, according to a preferred embodiment,
the safety portion 34 comprises a reinforcing element 36 that
connects the safety portion 34 to tongue 20.
Preferably, moreover, a loop 38 is obtained between the engagement
portion 24 and the connecting portion 28, which advantageously
allows settling the engagement portion 24 and the connecting
portion 28 in the broken seal configuration.
Innovatively, the cap according to the present invention is
especially safe, especially to be used by children.
In particular, even when detached from one another due to the
tearing undergone by the bridges which makes them break, the
guarantee portions maintain a limited length, so as not to form
dangerous spikes.
Advantageously, moreover, the guarantee portions are strongly
constrained to the inner annular wall, so as to not be torn away,
for example with the mouth.
* * * * *